SAN FRANCISCO — Second baseman Jeff Kent was back in the lineup Saturday in his familiar clean-up spot, where he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his first action of the 2002 season.

Kent, who started the season on the disabled list while recovering from a broken bone in his left wrist, felt that he was healthy enough to start the season and was at odds with the Giants' front office for putting him on the disabled list.

"He looked pretty good to me," manager Dusty Baker said of Kent's debut. "Hit the ball good twice. It's not a one-night process. You can tell how hard he worked to get back here."

Kent had two put outs and two assists at second base. He bobbled the first ball to him, a first-inning grounder by Phil Nevin, but avoided the error. Trainer Stan Conte said Kent will continue to work on strengthening his wrist but that it looks fine.

"The X-rays show the healing," Conte said. "He's had absolutely no pain. I'm not concerned about the fracture at all. (Because of ) the fact that he's rehabilitated so fast, tendinitis is my only concern."

Minor injury

To accommodate Kent's return, first baseman Damon Minor was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with left patella tendinitis. He can be activated April 21.

The same injury shelved Minor at the start of last season. Conte said Minor aggravated his knee sliding into home plate in a spring training game against the A's over a week ago (March 29).

View Comments

Minor appeared in two of the Giants' first four games, going 0-for-3

"It started to bother him a little bit and we treated it," Conte said. "The slide . . . that took it over the top. Our concern is that if he had to play every day, he would go down. Based on last year, we're confident he'll have no problems after this."

Short hops

The Giants' 5-0 start is their best since winning five in a row to start the 1999 season. The 1987 and 1962 teams also started 5-0. All three went to the postseason. The '99 and '87 teams won the NL West but were eliminated by the Mets ('99, NL Division Series) and Cardinals ('87, NL Championship Series). The '62 team captured to the NL pennant and lost to the Yankees in the World Series. . . . The best start in franchise history is 9-0 by the 1918 New York Giants. The 1930 New York Giants started 7-0. Neither one of those teams advanced beyond the regular season. . . . Third baseman David Bell knocked in two more runs, giving him six on the season, second only to Barry Bonds. His average is up to .368. . . . Injured right-hander Jason Schmidt (groin) is scheduled to throw 75 pitches Monday. . . . According to manager Dusty Baker, Saturday was supposed to be a "mental day off" for center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, who did not start for the first time this season. But the Giants' leadoff hitter, who is 1-for-16 thus far, was inserted for defense in the bottom of the ninth. He is expected to start for Sunday's series finale. . . . San Diego right fielder Ryan Klesko made his season debut after serving a four-game suspension. Klesko, an All-Star selection last year, was originally suspended for five games after a brawl with Anaheim in spring training, but the suspension was reduced.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.